Ten years after Brexit vote Keir Starmer’s legacy could be UK-EU reset deals

A decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Sir Keir Starmer aims to reverse the “damage” of Brexit with a concerted effort to reset ties with Europe, a move that could define his political legacy.

The referendum on 23 June 2016 plunged the UK into years of complex negotiations, leading to a period of strained relations with the bloc.

Upon Labor coming to power in 2024, Sir Keir has expressed a clear desire to draw closer ties with Europe and address what he has repeatedly described as Brexit’s “profound damage to our economy”. But he also drew firm red lines: the UK will not rejoin the EU, the customs union or the single market, and there will be no return to freedom of movement.

Last May his government secured a post-Brexit EU “reset” deal covering critical areas such as defence, food standards and passport controls. The second EU summit, scheduled for July 22, will build on this progress.

One key outcome expected is a youth mobility agreement that will allow British and EU citizens under the age of 30 to live, work and study in each other’s countries. But the initiative has faced obstacles, including disputes over tuition fees for EU students in the UK, UK demands for a cap on the number of participants and uncertainty over European countries’ willingness to issue visas for young Britons.

The Starmer administration is determined to ensure that these efforts to strengthen ties with the bloc are not perceived as a retreat from Brexit.

EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed: “Labour has a duty to ensure that this country remains united and that our approach to international relations serves every part of Britain.”

He added: “We have reset our relationship with the EU to deliver deals that will help reduce the cost of weekly shopping and protect our economy, as well as plan for a new youth experience so young Brits can once again work, travel and study across Europe.”

Mr Thomas-Symonds stressed the importance of focusing on the future rather than revisiting “past debates that only serve to divide the country”. He warned against “rejecting comforting answers that sound nice but are unrealistic and undeliverable”, an apparent reference to calls for Britain to rejoin the bloc.

The referendum anniversary comes amid uncertainty surrounding Sir Keir’s political future.

He faces potential challenges from Andy Burnham, who returned as an MP following his victory in the Makerfield by-election, and former health secretary Wes Streeting, who has said he has support for the top job.

Mr Streeting, who previously described the decision to leave the bloc as a “devastating mistake”, promised a “maximalist” approach to closer EU ties, albeit within the red lines of Labour’s manifesto.

Mr Burnham, by contrast, is determined not to “rehash” old Brexit arguments and is trying to downplay the possibility of reversing the 2016 referendum.

Although Sir Keir has previously expressed his desire to see the UK back in the EU in his lifetime, when asked if he shared that sentiment last week he reiterated his manifesto determination not to rejoin the EU.

He described his approach as “moving slowly but surely with the EU” and emphasized the importance of quiet diplomacy to rebuild relations. “We shouldn’t be spending all our time looking back at Brexit and rehashing the Brexit vote, we should be looking forward to what the relationship with the EU will be like,” he said.

If Sir Keir is replaced, the potential deals announced at the July summit could be some of his final achievements as prime minister.

Best for Britain, a campaign group advocating closer ties with the EU, suggested that a second annual summit would likely lead to deals that would reduce trade frictions and that it would “not be a terrible legacy”.

Chief Executive Naomi Smith commented: “Starmer’s administration has unquestionably thawed previously frosty UK-EU relations and, with the second annual summit now confirmed, there is hope that mutually beneficial deals on food and drink, electricity and, crucially, opportunities for young people will reduce trade frictions, tackle the cost of living and boost GDP – although its own red lines will constrain anything more lucrative, it will not be a terrible legacy.”

He added that beyond these agreements, and given the EU’s dislike of a “pick and mix” approach, both sides should consider deeper integration options such as a customs union arrangement, single market access or full EU membership.

Ms Smith noted the group’s modeling that only full EU membership “gives the economy what it needs and progressive voters what they want”.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan described Brexit as “an enormous act of economic self-harm for the UK” and argued that the reset should go further and there should be a plebiscite on re-engagement. “We must move towards closer alignment, including rejoining the customs union and single market and giving the public a say in the next general election about our long-term future with Europe.” he called.

He cited new Town Hall analysis which suggested the UK economy was around 5 per cent smaller than comparable European economies since the 2016 election. “It has made everyday goods and services more expensive and put real pressure on key sectors such as hospitality, retail, construction and professional services, all of which are vital to the London economy and jobs in the capital,” he explained.

The Liberal Democrats also called for Sir Keir to pursue closer defense ties with Europe and rejoin the single market. Their leader, Sir Ed Davey, called on Mr Burnham to abandon Labour’s red lines, arguing they were keeping ministers “constrained” by limits set five years ago before Russia invaded Ukraine and Donald Trump’s hypothetical return to the White House.

But Sir Keir’s current boundaries appear largely in line with public sentiment. Research published earlier this month shows the British public supports a closer relationship with the EU but is not yet fully behind rejoining the bloc.

A Changing Europe survey by Ipsos, King’s College London and the UK found that almost half of those surveyed were in favor of a closer relationship, with 60 per cent wanting more cooperation on defence. The study also highlighted a nuanced picture that changes depending on the trade-offs presented. Keiran Pedley, research director at Ipsos, noted: “On the face of it, there is an openness to greater alignment and rules to facilitate a stronger trading relationship, but arguments about sovereignty – particularly when it comes to immigration – remain unconvincing.”

Earlier this month, Independent It has launched its new campaign: ‘Europe: The Road Back’, which will explore the impact of Brexit and explore the UK’s future relationship with Europe. Sign up for our free Europe: The Way Back newsletter here.